There probably would be a market for a sort of "label" or writable flag that could be affixed to 1/2 in. PVC irrigation pipe lath. I've written on the pipes themselves, and that works to a point, but a rectangle that fits on a clipboard for writing and then can be attached to the pipe already driven into the ground would beat that.
So far, the ideas that I've come up with (but haven't actually tried) fall into two categories: labels that can be attached by insertion into the pipe and labels that wrap around it. Naturally, the material for the label should be as weather resistant as the pipe itself.
Something as seemingly simple as a rectangle of white PVC sheet with a 180° bend radiused for the pipe and stapled or glued to itself might work, but would be a bit bulky to store.
Any ideas for a design?
A public record in a GIS would work just fine. Would survive the lath (pipe) and be searchable from a smart phone. Could include many pages of data from multiple sources.
> A public record in a GIS would work just fine.
So the contractor or new land owner who wants to know what the marker is just pulls out his or her smartphone and searches the GIS to see if he or she is within 10 ft. of a stake that was set 10 ft. offset from a building foundation? or along a line for fence construction? :>
I used PVC to mark the corners of my "ranch" a few years ago. A quick brush fire this spring did not scorch them but the heat made them all lay down flat just like a wet noodle, kind of cute, but no longer a viable marker... the fresh growth will obscure them within the next few months.
30 some years ago we used white fiberglass fence posts (same shape as the metal one in your photo) that we used a sharpie to label with... I expect they did very well.
Good idea, Kent. I can't come up with anything right off hand that would be weather/vandal proof, though.
I've always thought that eventually we would put 'chips' in our caps (like they stick in pets for the vet to identify). Heck, by then we'll probably be able to put a pdf copy of the survey on the chip....and read it with our data collector.
> I used PVC to mark the corners of my "ranch" a few years ago. A quick brush fire this spring did not scorch them but the heat made them all lay down flat just like a wet noodle ...
Yes, but I don't think that the lath need to be permanents against all hazards forever. They just need to be lightweight, cheap, and weather-resistant. Non-ferrous is, of course, a kindness to the next survey party through.
Actually, I had thought about doing the same thing. A 2" or maybe 4" square of vinyl of the color of your choice that you can write on and then slide it down a precut slot on the pipe. The pipe would have a simple saw cut of the width of the saw blade running vertically on one side only from one end of the pipe for the length of the flag. The flag would then have a thicker width on the part that would be on the inside of the pipe (created by multiple small folds of the flag stitched or stapled upon itself. This flag would then be secured in the pipe by capping the end with a plastic cap bearing your name etc. While it could be torn off using enough force it should withstand the elements well for many years.
I will try to put one together this weekend to see how it goes.
Jim
> Good idea, Kent. I can't come up with anything right off hand that would be weather/vandal proof, though.
Well, keeping in mind that kids can always pull lath out of the ground, I'm not so sure that whatever is used needs to be vandal-proof. A heavy-duty stapler may be a good fastening tool. I suppose a tag wired to the pipe would work, but would be a bit harder to read from a distance than one fixed to the pipe.
> Actually, I had thought about doing the same thing. A 2" or maybe 4" square of vinyl of the color of your choice that you can write on and then slide it down a precut slot on the pipe. The pipe would have a simple saw cut of the width of the saw blade running vertically on one side only from one end of the pipe for the length of the flag. The flag would then have a thicker width on the part that would be on the inside of the pipe (created by multiple small folds of the flag stitched or stapled upon itself. This flag would then be secured in the pipe by capping the end with a plastic cap bearing your name etc. While it could be torn off using enough force it should withstand the elements well for many years.
That's an interesting idea. You'd probably need a drive cap to put over the saw-cut end when the pipe is driven.
Paint the surface of the pvc pipe in the area for writing. You can do this ahead of time and not carry extra stuff.
When I would do soil sampling for pre-dredge surveys we used that method to mark each pvc pipe....
Stakeless construction technology exists now. It has not been adopted by all yet but its growing fast.
If you really want to make something to put over a pipe it could be extruded like thousands of other plastic parts. You'd just need to be able to sell enough of pay for the molds. It could either slip over or snap over the pipe.
Printable labels.
Write on label.
Attach to lath.
Spray over label with a clear lacquer?
Sure seems like it would be expedient as long as your writing wouldn't smear.
> Paint the surface of the pvc pipe in the area for writing. You can do this ahead of time and not carry extra stuff.
Oh, you can write on the PVC pipe with just an ordinary Sharpie marker. That's not a problem. It would just be more convenient and easier to read to have a flag/label that would both improve legibility and visibility of the lath. Depending upon the label design, you could have them screenprinted with professional identification.
The other advantage to a separate label would be in wet weather. The label could be written up in a nice dry truck.
You could use some sort of a paper or plastic tag with a wire or even tape to attach. With wire you could pre drill a small attachment hole. I'd guess that tags up to a full sheet size are available. Something about 2 inches wide and maybe 10 inches long would be big enough to write quite a bit on.
http://www.uline.com/BL_3017/Colored-Tyvek-Tag s">Quick search
http://www.duralabel.com/duralabel-pro-supplies/duralabel-pro-wire-wraps.php
These may suit your purpose Kent
&g http://www.duralabel.com/duralabel-pro-supplies/duralabel-pro-wire-wraps.php
> These may suit your purpose Kent
Those would be a good way of labeling cables, but I don't think a cable would work for a lath. Way too small.
PVC Cards:
http://www.idwholesaler.com/id-cards/pvc.html
Use hack saw to cut angled slots in pvc lath. Lower slot angled down in a frown 🙁 and the upper slot angled down in a smile 🙂 .
Lightly bend pvc card...pop into slots.
DDSM
:beer:
> Those would be a good way of labeling cables, but I don't think a cable would work for a lath. Way too small.
You want them for a 1/2" dia PVC.. These wrap around and have a clear protective shield that covers the printing to keep it protected from the elements.
There should still be some of those Vote for Me signs
around. They are usually blank on the back side.You could cut those up and have a nice writing surface. Also QuickStakes would work if you want to spend some money.